Mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal disclosed herein includes a main body having front and side surfaces, a window provided on a top of the main body and curved from the front surface toward the side surfaces to define at least a part of the side surfaces, a touch sensor provided on a rear surface of the window and curved along a shape of the window, a frame provided on a rear surface of the display and having a shape corresponding to the display for support, supporting members supporting ends of the window, the touch sensor and the display and partially defining the side surfaces of the terminal, and a rear case covering a rear surface of the main body, wherein the touch sensor and display are formed longer along side surfaces of the window, and the window contacts parts of the supporting members, externally exposed to define the side surfaces of the terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/073,361, filed on Mar. 17, 2016, now allowed, which is a continuationof U.S. application Ser. No. 14/707,059, filed on May 8, 2015, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,513,668, which claims the benefit of earlier filing date andright of priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2014-0057918,filed on May 14, 2014, and 10-2014-0064679, filed on May 28, 2014, and10-2014-0102363 filed on Aug. 8, 2014, the contents of which are allincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

This specification relates to a mobile terminal having a display and atouch sensor.

2. Background

Terminals may be divided into mobile/portable terminals and stationaryterminals according to their mobility. Also, the mobile terminals may beclassified into handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals accordingto whether or not a user can directly carry.

As it becomes multifunctional, a mobile terminal can be allowed tocapture still images or moving images, play music or video files, playgames, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as anintegrated multimedia player.

Many efforts include not only changes and improvement of structuralcomponents implementing a mobile terminal but also software improvementto support and improve functions of the terminal. For example, a userinterface environment is provided in order for users to easily andconveniently retrieve or select functions.

Also, many users have their mobile terminals to express their ownpersonalities, and accordingly, various design factors are required forthe mobile terminals. The design factors may include structural changesand improvements for users to use the mobile terminal more conveniently.As one of those structural changes and improvements, a structure whichallows side surfaces as well as a front surface of a terminal to betouch-sensitive and is easily fabricated may be taken into account.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein whereappropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternativedetails, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Therefore, an aspect of the detailed description is to provide a mobileterminal having a novel structure, different from the related art, andcapable of being touch-sensitive on front and side surfaces thereof.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a mobileterminal capable of implementing side surfaces to be touch-sensitive andminimizing a size of a bezel.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a mobileterminal capable of having size-reduced upper and lower bezels.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, thereis provided a mobile terminal including a main body having a frontsurface and side surfaces, a window provided on a top of the main bodyand curved from the front surface toward the side surfaces so as todefine at least a part of the side surfaces, a touch sensor provided ona rear surface of the window and curved along a shape of the window, adisplay provided on a rear surface of the touch sensor and curved alonga shape of the touch sensor, a frame provided on a rear surface of thedisplay and having a shape corresponding to the display to support thedisplay, supporters configured to support ends of the window, the touchsensor and the display and partially form the side surfaces of theterminal, and a rear case configured to cover a rear surface of the mainbody, wherein the touch sensor and the display are formed longer alongside surfaces of the window, and the window comes in contact with partsof the supporters, which are externally exposed to form the sidesurfaces of the terminal.

The supporters may be formed along a lengthwise direction of the mobileterminal. The frame may include a front surface portion facing the frontsurface of the terminal and having a flat or curved surface, and sidesurface portions extending from the front surface portion and curvedtoward the side surfaces of the terminal, respectively.

The supporters may be provided between the frame and the rear case. Thesupporters may be supporting members, each of which includes a verticalportion configured to support the window, and a horizontal portionconfigured to support the touch sensor and the display.

A through hole may be formed through the horizontal portion, and a firstprotrusion formed on a lower end of the frame and a second protrusionprotruding from the rear case may be inserted into the through hole. Theframe may be mounted on the horizontal portion.

The supporters may be mold members formed at the lower ends of thewindow. The frame may further include edge portions protruding fromlower ends of the side surface portions in a horizontal direction. Themold members, the touch sensor and the display may be mounted on theedge portions.

Third protrusions, which come in contact with inner sides of the sidesurface portions of the frame, respectively, may be formed on edges ofan upper surface of the rear case

Each of the supporters may include a recess portion integrally formedwith the frame, extending from the side surface portion and recessed ina lengthwise direction, and a protruding portion extending from therecess portion and protruding toward a top to come in contact with thelower end of the window.

Fourth protrusions, which come in contact with inner sides of the sidesurface portions of the frame, respectively, may be formed on edges ofan upper surface of the rear case. A plurality of jig holes may beformed at the side surface portions of the frame.

The supporters may extend from the rear case. The rear case may includeside surface portions coming in contact with the window, accommodatingportions each formed at an inner side of the side surface portion andrecessed to accommodate the touch sensor and the display therein, bottomsurface portions formed perpendicular to the side surface portions andhigher than the side surface portions, the bottom surface portion beingformed on upper and lower ends of the main body and externally exposed,and curved surface portions curved to connect the side surface portionsand the bottom surface portions to each other.

The mobile terminal may further include a decoration member provided atone side of the window and mounted on the bottom surface portion and thecurved surface portions. The decoration member may have the samethickness as the window. The decoration member may include a mainsurface portion formed toward the front surface of the terminal, andcurved portions extending from the principal surface and curved to bemounted on the curved surface portions.

A curved shape of the curved portion may correspond to a curved shape ofthe curved surface portion. The decoration member may be provided on thetouch sensor.

In accordance with one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, there isprovided a mobile terminal including a main body having a front surfaceand side surfaces, a display module provided on a top of the main bodyand curved from the front surface toward the side surfaces to define atleast a part of the side surfaces of the main body, a frame provided ona rear surface of the display module and having a shape corresponding tothe display module to support the display module, and a flexible printedcircuit board having one end connected to a side end portion of thedisplay module and the other end electrically connected to a printedcircuit board disposed within the main body, wherein the flexibleprinted circuit board is connected to the printed circuit board in amanner of bypassing or penetrating through the frame.

The frame may include a front surface portion facing the front surfaceof the terminal and having a flat or curved surface, and side surfaceportions extending from the front surface portion and curved toward theside surfaces of the terminal.

The display module may include a display provided on an upper surface ofthe frame and curved from the front surface to the side surfaces of themain body, a touch sensor provided on an upper surface of the displayand curved along the shape of the display, and a window provided on anupper surface of the touch sensor and defining an appearance of theterminal.

The mobile terminal may further include supporting members formed in alengthwise direction of the terminal and coupled to side end portions ofa rear case, covering a rear surface of the main body, so as to supportthe frame and the display module. The supporting members may allow formounting thereon side end portions of the frame and the display module.

Each of the supporting members may include a vertical portion forming atleast a part of an appearance of the terminal and coming in contact withthe window, and a horizontal portion configured to accommodate thereonthe touch sensor, the display and the frame.

An accommodation groove may be formed along the vertical portion and thehorizontal portion of each supporting member, such that the flexibleprinted circuit board is accommodated therein.

The accommodation groove may include a first part recessed into thevertical portion, and a second part formed perpendicular to the firstpart and recessed into the horizontal portion.

Each of the supporting members may include a first through hole formedthrough the horizontal portion. A first protrusion formed on a lower endof the frame and a second protrusion protruding from the rear case maybe inserted into the first through hole.

The flexible printed circuit board may include a first vertical portionaccommodated in the first part and connected to an end of the displaymodule, a horizontal portion perpendicularly extending from the firstvertical portion and accommodated in the second part, a third partextending from the first horizontal portion and having at least partupwardly formed along a sidewall of the second part, and a fourthportion extending from the third part and connected to the printedcircuit board.

Edge portions may protrude from lower ends of the side surface portionsof the frame in a horizontal direction, respectively, such that thedisplay module is mounted thereon.

A second through hole may be formed through each side surface portion ofthe frame, such that the flexible printed circuit board is insertedtherethrough.

Mold members may be formed at ends of the window in a lengthwisedirection of the terminal through an insert-injection molding operation.

Third protrusions may be formed on edges of an upper surface of the rearcase, respectively. The third protrusion may come in contact with aninner side of the side surface portion of the frame.

The second through holes may be formed adjacent to the edge portions,respectively.

The flexible printed circuit board may include a first flexible printedcircuit board connected to the touch sensor, and a second flexibleprinted circuit board connected to the display. The first flexibleprinted circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board mayhave the same shape and overlap each other.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, thereis provided a mobile terminal including a main body having a frontsurface and side surfaces, a window provided on a top of the main bodyand curved from the front surface toward the side surfaces so as todefine at least a part of the side surfaces, a touch sensor provided ona rear surface of the window and curved along a shape of the window, adisplay provided on a rear surface of the touch sensor and curved alonga shape of the touch sensor, a frame provided on a rear surface of thedisplay and having a shape corresponding to the display to support thedisplay, a rear case configured to cover a rear surface of the mainbody, and a decoration member located on a lower or upper end of thewindow, and provided with a principal surface portion covering a part ofthe front surface of the main body, and curved portions each extendingfrom the principal surface portion to cover a part of each side surfaceof the main body, wherein the touch sensor and the display are formedlonger than the window in a lengthwise direction of the main body, andcutout portions are formed by partially cutting out ends of sidesurfaces of the touch sensor and the display, respectively, so as todefine a space where the curved portion is curved.

The touch sensor and the display may be formed along the side surfacesof the main body to be longer than the window.

The rear case may include accommodating portions formed along the sidesurfaces thereof to support ends of the touch sensor and the display,sidewall portions upwardly extending from end portions of theaccommodating portions to come in contact with the window, a bottomsurface portion formed perpendicular to the sidewall portions and higherthan the sidewall portions, and curved surface portions curved toconnect the sidewall portions and the bottom surface portion to eachother.

The sidewall portions may be formed along a lengthwise direction of themobile terminal.

The decoration member may be mounted on the bottom surface portion andthe curved surface portions.

The frame may include a front surface portion facing the front surfaceof the main body and having a flat or curved surface, and side surfaceportions extending from the front surface portion and curved toward theside surfaces of the main body.

First hooks may be formed on the principal surface portion and firstholes may be formed on the front surface portion of the frame. The firsthooks may be fixedly inserted into the first holes.

Second hooks may be formed on the curved portions and second holes maybe formed on the side surface portions of the frame. The second hooksmay be fixedly inserted into the second holes.

Each curved portion of the decoration member may have predeterminedcurvatures in XY, YZ and ZX directions.

Each of the curved portions may have a shape corresponding to a curvedshape of the curved surface portion.

Each of the cutout portions may be formed to correspond to the curvedportion and a section from the curved portion to one point of theprincipal surface portion.

The decoration member may be disposed on the touch sensor.

A printed circuit board may be provided below the frame.

The rear case may include a cover portion formed at one side of theaccommodating portion to cover the rear surface of the main body, andthe accommodating portion may be more recessed than the cover portion.

In accordance with at least one of embodiments disclosed herein, a sizeof a bezel of a mobile terminal can be minimized by supporting lower endportions of a window formed at side surfaces of the terminal usingsupporters.

Through holes may be formed through a frame to enable firm fixing andcoupling between the frame and a rear case.

A member, which already uses portions of the window located on the sidesurfaces of the terminal, can be utilized so as to simplify afabricating process.

The present invention may reduce sizes of upper and lower bezels of theterminal and also enhance performance of an antenna located at a lowerend by disposing a display module driving element, which is a conductiveelement, on a side surface of the mobile terminal.

Also, with the display module driving element disposed on the sidesurface of the mobile terminal, curvatures can be applied to everyregion of the mobile terminal in a widthwise direction of the terminal.

Also, in accordance with at least one of embodiments disclosed herein, adecoration member or the window may be configured to be curved at alower or upper end portion of the mobile terminal, and cutout portionsmay be formed at a touch sensor and a display, thereby reducing a sizeof a lower or upper bezel.

Further scope of applicability of the present application will becomemore apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However,it should be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a mobile terminal in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 1B and 1C are conceptual views of one example of a mobileterminal, viewed from different directions;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are conceptual views illustrating operations implementedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view illustrating one example of a mobileterminal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal illustrated inFIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a mobile terminal having a displaymodule;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal inaccordance with a first exemplary embodiment disclosed herein;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are partially-exploded perspective views of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7A through 7C are sectional views taken along the lines AA, BB andCC of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal inaccordance with a second exemplary embodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 9 is a partially-exploded perspective view of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10A through 10C are sectional views taken along the lines AA, BBand CC of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal inaccordance with a third exemplary embodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 12 is a partially-exploded perspective view of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are sectional views taken along the lines AA and BB ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a mobile terminal in accordance with afourth exemplary embodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a partially-exploded perspective view of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of a decoration member and a windowof a mobile terminal in accordance with one exemplary embodimentdisclosed herein;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are lateral views of part C of FIG. 14;

FIG. 19A through 19C are views illustrating curvatures of a decorationmember in accordance with one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 14;

FIG. 21 is a partially-exploded perspective view in case where a mobileterminal is curved along a lengthwise direction thereof;

FIG. 22 is a partially-exploded perspective view in case where a mobileterminal is curved at both ends in a widthwise direction thereof; and

FIG. 23 is a partially-exploded perspective view in case where a mobileterminal is curved entirely along a widthwise direction thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplaryembodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to thedrawings, the same or equivalent components may be provided with thesame or similar reference numbers, and description thereof will not berepeated. In general, a suffix such as “module” and “unit” may be usedto refer to elements or components. Use of such a suffix herein ismerely intended to facilitate description of the specification, and thesuffix itself is not intended to give any special meaning or function.In describing the present disclosure, moreover, the detailed descriptionwill be omitted when a specific description for publicly knowntechnologies to which the invention pertains is judged to obscure thegist of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings are used tohelp easily understand various technical features and it should beunderstood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by theaccompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should beconstrued to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes inaddition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanyingdrawings.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may beused herein to describe various elements, these elements should not belimited by these terms. These terms are generally only used todistinguish one element from another.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected with” another element, the element can be connected with theother element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly connected with”another element, there are no intervening elements present.

A singular representation may include a plural representation unless itrepresents a definitely different meaning from the context.

Terms such as “include” or “has” are used herein and should beunderstood that they are intended to indicate an existence of severalcomponents, functions or steps, disclosed in the specification, and itis also understood that greater or fewer components, functions, or stepsmay likewise be utilized.

Mobile terminals presented herein may be implemented using a variety ofdifferent types of terminals. Examples of such terminals includecellular phones, smart phones, user equipment, laptop computers, digitalbroadcast terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portablemultimedia players (PMPs), navigators, portable computers (PCs), slatePCs, tablet PCs, ultra books, wearable devices (for example, smartwatches, smart glasses, head mounted displays (HMDs)), and the like.

By way of non-limiting example only, further description will be madewith reference to particular types of mobile terminals. However, suchteachings apply equally to other types of terminals, such as those typesnoted above. In addition, these teachings may also be applied tostationary terminals such as digital TV, desktop computers, and thelike.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-1C, where FIG. 1A is a block diagramof a mobile terminal in accordance with the present disclosure, andFIGS. 1B and 1C are conceptual views of one example of the mobileterminal, viewed from different directions.

The mobile terminal 100 is shown having components such as a wirelesscommunication unit 110, an input unit 120, a sensing unit 140, an outputunit 150, an interface unit 160, a memory 170, a controller 180, and apower supply unit 190. It is understood that implementing all of theillustrated components is not a requirement, and that greater or fewercomponents may alternatively be implemented.

More specifically, the wireless communication unit 110 typicallyincludes one or more modules which permit communications such aswireless communications between the mobile terminal 100 and a wirelesscommunication system, communications between the mobile terminal 100 andanother mobile terminal, communications between the mobile terminal 100and an external server. Further, the wireless communication unit 110typically includes one or more modules which connect the mobile terminal100 to one or more networks.

The wireless communication unit 110 includes one or more of a broadcastreceiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wirelessInternet module 113, a short-range communication module 114, and alocation information module 115.

The input unit 120 includes a camera 121 or an image input unit forobtaining images or video, a microphone 122, which is one type of audioinput device for inputting an audio signal, and a user input unit 123(for example, a touch key, a mechanical key, and the like) for allowinga user to input information. Data (for example, audio, video, image, andthe like) is obtained by the input unit 120 and may be analyzed andprocessed according to user commands.

The sensing unit 140 is typically implemented using one or more sensorsconfigured to sense internal information of the mobile terminal, thesurrounding environment of the mobile terminal, user information, andthe like. For example, the sensing unit 140 may include at least one ofa proximity sensor 141, an illumination sensor 142, a touch sensor, anacceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, a G-sensor, a gyroscope sensor,a motion sensor, an RGB sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a finger scansensor, a ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor (for example, camera121), a microphone 122, a battery gauge, an environment sensor (forexample, a barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer, a radiation detectionsensor, a thermal sensor, and a gas sensor, among others), and achemical sensor (for example, an electronic nose, a health care sensor,a biometric sensor, and the like). The mobile terminal disclosed hereinmay be configured to utilize information obtained from one or moresensors of the sensing unit 140, and combinations thereof.

The output unit 150 is typically configured to output various types ofinformation, such as audio, video, tactile output, and the like. Theoutput unit 150 is shown having at least one of a display unit 151, anaudio output module 152, a haptic module 153, and an optical outputmodule 154. The display unit 151 may have an inter-layered structure oran integrated structure with a touch sensor in order to facilitate atouch screen. The touch screen may provide an output interface betweenthe mobile terminal 100 and a user, as well as function as the userinput unit 123 which provides an input interface between the mobileterminal 100 and the user.

The interface unit 160 serves as an interface with various types ofexternal devices that can be coupled to the mobile terminal 100. Theinterface unit 160, for example, may include any of wired or wirelessports, external power supply ports, wired or wireless data ports, memorycard ports, ports for connecting a device having an identificationmodule, audio input/output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, earphone ports,and the like. In some cases, the mobile terminal 100 may performassorted control functions associated with a connected external device,in response to the external device being connected to the interface unit160.

The memory 170 is typically implemented to store data to support variousfunctions or features of the mobile terminal 100. For instance, thememory 170 may be configured to store application programs executed inthe mobile terminal 100, data or instructions for operations of themobile terminal 100, and the like. Some of these application programsmay be downloaded from an external server via wireless communication.Other application programs may be installed within the mobile terminal100 at time of manufacturing or shipping, which is typically the casefor basic functions of the mobile terminal 100 (for example, receiving acall, placing a call, receiving a message, sending a message, and thelike). It is common for application programs to be stored in the memory170, installed in the mobile terminal 100, and executed by thecontroller 180 to perform an operation (or function) for the mobileterminal 100.

The controller 180 typically functions to control overall operation ofthe mobile terminal 100, in addition to the operations associated withthe application programs. The controller 180 may provide or processinformation or functions appropriate for a user by processing signals,data, information and the like, which are input or output by theaforementioned various components, or activating application programsstored in the memory 170.

Also, the controller 180 controls some or all of the componentsillustrated in FIG. 1A according to the execution of an applicationprogram that have been stored in the memory 170. In addition, thecontroller 180 may control at least two of those components included inthe mobile terminal to activate the application program.

The power supply unit 190 can be configured to receive external power orprovide internal power in order to supply appropriate power required foroperating elements and components included in the mobile terminal 100.The power supply unit 190 may include a battery, and the battery may beconfigured to be embedded in the terminal body, or configured to bedetachable from the terminal body.

At least part of the components may cooperatively operate to implementan operation, a control or a control method of a mobile terminalaccording to various embodiments disclosed herein. Also, the operation,the control or the control method of the mobile terminal may beimplemented on the mobile terminal by an activation of at least oneapplication program stored in the memory 170.

The mobile communication module 112 can transmit and/or receive wirelesssignals to and from one or more network entities. Typical examples of anetwork entity include a base station, an external mobile terminal, aserver, and the like. Such network entities form part of a mobilecommunication network, which is constructed according to technicalstandards or communication methods for mobile communications (forexample, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code DivisionMulti Access (CDMA), CDMA2000 (Code Division Multi Access 2000),Enhanced Voice-Date Optimized or Enhanced Voice-Data Only (EV-DO),Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), High Speed Downlink Packet access (HSDPA), HighSpeed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE),LTE-advanced (LTE-A) and the like).

Examples of the wireless signals include audio call signals, video(telephony) call signals, or various formats of data to supportcommunication of text and multimedia messages.

The wireless Internet module 113 is configured to facilitate wirelessInternet access. This module may be internally or externally coupled tothe mobile terminal 100. The wireless Internet module 113 may transmitand/or receive wireless signals via communication networks according towireless Internet technologies.

Examples of such wireless Internet access include Wireless LAN (WLAN),Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Digital Living Network Alliance(DLNA), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA),High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE),LTE-advanced (LTE-A) and the like. The wireless Internet module 113 maytransmit/receive data according to one or more of such wireless Internettechnologies, and other Internet technologies as well.

In some embodiments, when the wireless Internet access is implementedaccording to, for example, WiBro, HSDPA, HSUPA, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE,LET-A, and the like, as part of a mobile communication network, thewireless Internet module 113 may be understood as a type of the mobilecommunication module 112.

The short-range communication module 114 is configured to facilitateshort-range communications. Suitable technologies for implementing suchshort-range communications include BLUETOOTH™, Radio FrequencyIDentification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-WideBand(UWB), ZigBee, Near Field Communication (NFC), Wireless-Fidelity(Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Wireless USB (Wireless Universal Serial Bus), andthe like. The short-range communication module 114 in general supportswireless communications between the mobile terminal 100 and a wirelesscommunication system, communications between the mobile terminal 100 andanother mobile terminal 100, or communications between the mobileterminal and a network where another mobile terminal 100 (or an externalserver) is located, via wireless area networks. One example of thewireless area networks is a wireless personal area networks.

Here, another mobile terminal (which may be configured similarly tomobile terminal 100) may be a wearable device, for example, a smartwatch, a smart glass or a head mounted display (HMD), which is able toexchange data with the mobile terminal 100 (or otherwise cooperate withthe mobile terminal 100). The short-range communication module 114 maysense or recognize the wearable device, and permit communication betweenthe wearable device and the mobile terminal 100. In addition, when thesensed wearable device is a device which is authenticated to communicatewith the mobile terminal 100, the controller 180, for example, may causetransmission of at least part of data processed in the mobile terminal100 to the wearable device via the short-range communication module 114.Hence, a user of the wearable device may use the data processed in themobile terminal 100 on the wearable device. For example, when a call isreceived in the mobile terminal 100, the user may answer the call usingthe wearable device. Also, when a message is received in the mobileterminal 100, the user can check the received message using the wearabledevice.

The location information module 115 is generally configured to detect,calculate, derive or otherwise identify a position (or current position)of the mobile terminal. As an example, the location information module115 includes a Global Position System (GPS) module, a Wi-Fi module, orboth. For example, when the mobile terminal uses a GPS module, aposition of the mobile terminal may be acquired using a signal sent froma GPS satellite. As another example, when the mobile terminal uses theWi-Fi module, a position of the mobile terminal can be acquired based oninformation related to a wireless access point (AP) which transmits orreceives a wireless signal to or from the Wi-Fi module. If desired, thelocation information module 115 may alternatively or additionallyfunction with any of the other modules of the wireless communicationunit 110 to obtain data related to the position of the mobile terminal.The location information module 115 is a module used for acquiring theposition (or the current position) and may not be limited to a modulefor directly calculating or acquiring the position of the mobileterminal.

The input unit 120 may be configured to permit various types of inputsto the mobile terminal 100. Examples of such inputs include audio,image, video, data, and user input. Image and video input is oftenobtained using one or more cameras 121. Such cameras 121 may processimage frames of still pictures or video obtained by image sensors in avideo or image capture mode. The processed image frames can be displayedon the display unit 151 or stored in memory 170. Meanwhile, the cameras121 may be arranged in a matrix configuration to permit a plurality ofimages having various angles or focal points to be input to the mobileterminal 100. Also, the cameras 121 may be located in a stereoscopicarrangement to acquire left and right images for implementing astereoscopic image.

The microphone 122 processes an external audio signal into electricaudio (sound) data. The processed audio data can be processed in variousmanners according to a function being executed in the mobile terminal100. If desired, the microphone 122 may include assorted noise removingalgorithms to remove unwanted noise generated in the course of receivingthe external audio signal.

The user input unit 123 is a component that permits input by a user.Such user input may enable the controller 180 to control operation ofthe mobile terminal 100. The user input unit 123 may include one or moreof a mechanical input element (for example, a mechanical key, a buttonlocated on a front and/or rear surface or a side surface of the mobileterminal 100, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like),or a touch-sensitive input element, among others. As one example, thetouch-sensitive input element may be a virtual key, a soft key or avisual key, which is displayed on a touch screen through softwareprocessing, or a touch key which is located on the mobile terminal at alocation that is other than the touch screen. On the other hand, thevirtual key or the visual key may be displayed on the touch screen invarious shapes, for example, graphic, text, icon, video, or acombination thereof.

The sensing unit 140 is generally configured to sense one or more ofinternal information of the mobile terminal, surrounding environmentinformation of the mobile terminal, user information, or the like, andgenerate a corresponding sensing signal. The controller 180 generallycooperates with the sending unit 140 to control operation of the mobileterminal 100 or execute data processing, a function or an operationassociated with an application program installed in the mobile terminalbased on the sensing signal. The sensing unit 140 may be implementedusing any of a variety of sensors, some of which will now be describedin more detail.

The proximity sensor 141 refers to a sensor to sense presence or absenceof an object approaching a surface, or an object located near a surface,by using an electromagnetic field, infrared rays, or the like without amechanical contact. The proximity sensor 141 may be arranged at an innerregion of the mobile terminal covered by the touch screen, or near thetouch screen.

The proximity sensor 141, for example, may include any of a transmissivetype photoelectric sensor, a direct reflective type photoelectricsensor, a mirror reflective type photoelectric sensor, a high-frequencyoscillation proximity sensor, a capacitance type proximity sensor, amagnetic type proximity sensor, an infrared rays proximity sensor, andthe like. When the touch screen is implemented as a capacitance type,the proximity sensor 141 can sense proximity of a pointer relative tothe touch screen by changes of an electromagnetic field, which isresponsive to an approach of an object with conductivity. In this case,the touch screen (touch sensor) may also be categorized as a proximitysensor.

The term “proximity touch” will often be referred to herein to denotethe scenario in which a pointer is positioned to be proximate to thetouch screen without contacting the touch screen. The term “contacttouch” will often be referred to herein to denote the scenario in whicha pointer makes physical contact with the touch screen. For the positioncorresponding to the proximity touch of the pointer relative to thetouch screen, such position will correspond to a position where thepointer is perpendicular to the touch screen. The proximity sensor 141may sense proximity touch, and proximity touch patterns (for example,distance, direction, speed, time, position, moving status, and thelike). In general, controller 180 processes data corresponding toproximity touches and proximity touch patterns sensed by the proximitysensor 141, and cause output of visual information on the touch screen.In addition, the controller 180 can control the mobile terminal 100 toexecute different operations or process different data (or information)according to whether a touch with respect to a point on the touch screenis either a proximity touch or a contact touch.

A touch sensor can sense a touch (or a touch input) applied to the touchscreen, such as display unit 151, using any of a variety of touchmethods. Examples of such touch methods include a resistive type, acapacitive type, an infrared type, and a magnetic field type, amongothers.

As one example, the touch sensor may be configured to convert changes ofpressure applied to a specific part of the display unit 151, or convertcapacitance occurring at a specific part of the display unit 151, intoelectric input signals. The touch sensor may also be configured to sensenot only a touched position and a touched region, but also touchpressure and/or touch capacitance. A touch object is generally used toapply a touch input to the touch sensor. Examples of typical touchobjects include a finger, a touch pen, a stylus pen, a pointer, or thelike.

When a touch input is sensed by a touch sensor, corresponding signalsmay be transmitted to a touch controller. The touch controller mayprocess the received signals, and then transmit corresponding data tothe controller 180. Accordingly, the controller 180 may sense whichregion of the display unit 151 has been touched. Here, the touchcontroller may be a component separate from the controller 180, thecontroller 180, and combinations thereof.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may execute the same or different controlsaccording to a type of touch object that touches the touch screen or atouch key provided in addition to the touch screen. Whether to executethe same or different control according to the object which provides atouch input may be decided based on a current operating state of themobile terminal 100 or a currently executed application program, forexample.

The touch sensor and the proximity sensor may be implementedindividually, or in combination, to sense various types of touches. Suchtouches includes a short (or tap) touch, a long touch, a multi-touch, adrag touch, a flick touch, a pinch-in touch, a pinch-out touch, a swipetouch, a hovering touch, and the like.

If desired, an ultrasonic sensor may be implemented to recognizeposition information relating to a touch object using ultrasonic waves.The controller 180, for example, may calculate a position of a wavegeneration source based on information sensed by an illumination sensorand a plurality of ultrasonic sensors. Since light is much faster thanultrasonic waves, the time for which the light reaches the opticalsensor is much shorter than the time for which the ultrasonic wavereaches the ultrasonic sensor. The position of the wave generationsource may be calculated using this fact. For instance, the position ofthe wave generation source may be calculated using the time differencefrom the time that the ultrasonic wave reaches the sensor based on thelight as a reference signal.

The camera 121, which has been depicted as a component of the input unit120, typically includes at least one a camera sensor (CCD, CMOS etc.), aphoto sensor (or image sensors), and a laser sensor.

Implementing the camera 121 with a laser sensor may allow detection of atouch of a physical object with respect to a 3D stereoscopic image. Thephoto sensor may be laminated on, or overlapped with, the displaydevice. The photo sensor may be configured to scan movement of thephysical object in proximity to the touch screen. In more detail, thephoto sensor may include photo diodes and transistors at rows andcolumns to scan content received at the photo sensor using an electricalsignal which changes according to the quantity of applied light. Namely,the photo sensor may calculate the coordinates of the physical objectaccording to variation of light to thus obtain position information ofthe physical object.

The display unit 151 is generally configured to output informationprocessed in the mobile terminal 100. For example, the display unit 151may display execution screen information of an application programexecuting at the mobile terminal 100 or user interface (UI) and graphicuser interface (GUI) information in response to the execution screeninformation.

Also, the display unit 151 may be implemented as a stereoscopic displayunit for displaying stereoscopic images.

A typical stereoscopic display unit may employ a stereoscopic displayscheme such as a stereoscopic scheme (a glass scheme), anauto-stereoscopic scheme (glassless scheme), a projection scheme(holographic scheme), or the like.

The audio output module 152 is generally configured to output audiodata. Such audio data may be obtained from any of a number of differentsources, such that the audio data may be received from the wirelesscommunication unit 110 or may have been stored in the memory 170. Theaudio data may be output during modes such as a signal reception mode, acall mode, a record mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcastreception mode, and the like. The audio output module 152 can provideaudible output related to a particular function (e.g., a call signalreception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed by themobile terminal 100. The audio output module 152 may also be implementedas a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, or the like.

A haptic module 153 can be configured to generate various tactileeffects that a user feels, perceive, or otherwise experience. A typicalexample of a tactile effect generated by the haptic module 153 isvibration. The strength, pattern and the like of the vibration generatedby the haptic module 153 can be controlled by user selection or settingby the controller. For example, the haptic module 153 may outputdifferent vibrations in a combining manner or a sequential manner.

Besides vibration, the haptic module 153 can generate various othertactile effects, including an effect by stimulation such as a pinarrangement vertically moving to contact skin, a spray force or suctionforce of air through a jet orifice or a suction opening, a touch to theskin, a contact of an electrode, electrostatic force, an effect byreproducing the sense of cold and warmth using an element that canabsorb or generate heat, and the like.

The haptic module 153 can also be implemented to allow the user to feela tactile effect through a muscle sensation such as the user's fingersor arm, as well as transferring the tactile effect through directcontact. Two or more haptic modules 153 may be provided according to theparticular configuration of the mobile terminal 100.

An optical output module 154 can output a signal for indicating an eventgeneration using light of a light source. Examples of events generatedin the mobile terminal 100 may include message reception, call signalreception, a missed call, an alarm, a schedule alarm, an emailreception, information reception through an application, and the like.

A signal output by the optical output module 154 may be implemented insuch a manner that the mobile terminal emits monochromatic light orlight with a plurality of colors. The signal output may be terminated asthe mobile terminal senses that a user has checked the generated event,for example.

The interface unit 160 serves as an interface for external devices to beconnected with the mobile terminal 100. For example, the interface unit160 can receive data transmitted from an external device, receive powerto transfer to elements and components within the mobile terminal 100,or transmit internal data of the mobile terminal 100 to such externaldevice. The interface unit 160 may include wired or wireless headsetports, external power supply ports, wired or wireless data ports, memorycard ports, ports for connecting a device having an identificationmodule, audio input/output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, earphone ports,or the like.

The identification module may be a chip that stores various informationfor authenticating authority of using the mobile terminal 100 and mayinclude a user identity module (UIM), a subscriber identity module(SIM), a universal subscriber identity module (USIM), and the like. Inaddition, the device having the identification module (also referred toherein as an “identifying device”) may take the form of a smart card.Accordingly, the identifying device can be connected with the terminal100 via the interface unit 160.

When the mobile terminal 100 is connected with an external cradle, theinterface unit 160 can serve as a passage to allow power from the cradleto be supplied to the mobile terminal 100 or may serve as a passage toallow various command signals input by the user from the cradle to betransferred to the mobile terminal there through. Various commandsignals or power input from the cradle may operate as signals forrecognizing that the mobile terminal is properly mounted on the cradle.

The memory 170 can store programs to support operations of thecontroller 180 and store input/output data (for example, phonebook,messages, still images, videos, etc.). The memory 170 may store datarelated to various patterns of vibrations and audio which are output inresponse to touch inputs on the touch screen.

The memory 170 may include one or more types of storage mediumsincluding a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a solid state disk(SSD) type, a silicon disk drive (SDD) type, a multimedia card microtype, a card-type memory (e.g., SD or DX memory, etc), a Random AccessMemory (RAM), a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a Read-Only Memory(ROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM),a Programmable Read-Only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magneticdisk, an optical disk, and the like. The mobile terminal 100 may also beoperated in relation to a network storage device that performs thestorage function of the memory 170 over a network, such as the Internet.

The controller 180 may typically control the general operations of themobile terminal 100 as well as operations associated with theapplication programs. For example, the controller 180 may set or releasea lock state for restricting a user from inputting a control commandwith respect to applications when a status of the mobile terminal meetsa preset condition.

The controller 180 can also perform the controlling and processingassociated with voice calls, data communications, video calls, and thelike, or perform pattern recognition processing to recognize ahandwriting input or a picture drawing input performed on the touchscreen as characters or images, respectively. In addition, thecontroller 180 can control one or a combination of those components inorder to implement various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein.

The power supply unit 190 receives external power or provide internalpower and supply the appropriate power required for operating respectiveelements and components included in the mobile terminal 100. The powersupply unit 190 may include a battery, which is typically rechargeableor be detachably coupled to the terminal body for charging.

The power supply unit 190 may include a connection port. The connectionport may be configured as one example of the interface unit 160 to whichan external charger for supplying power to recharge the battery iselectrically connected.

As another example, the power supply unit 190 may be configured torecharge the battery in a wireless manner without use of the connectionport. In this example, the power supply unit 190 can receive power,transferred from an external wireless power transmitter, using at leastone of an inductive coupling method which is based on magnetic inductionor a magnetic resonance coupling method which is based onelectromagnetic resonance.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in acomputer-readable medium, a machine-readable medium, or similar mediumusing, for example, software, hardware, or any combination thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 1B and 1C, the mobile terminal 100 is describedwith reference to a bar-type terminal body. However, the mobile terminal100 may alternatively be implemented in any of a variety of differentconfigurations. Examples of such configurations include watch-type,clip-type, glasses-type, or as a folder-type, flip-type, slide-type,swing-type, and swivel-type in which two and more bodies are combinedwith each other in a relatively movable manner, and combinationsthereof. Discussion herein will often relate to a particular type ofmobile terminal (for example, bar-type, watch-type, glasses-type, andthe like). However, such teachings with regard to a particular type ofmobile terminal will generally apply to other types of mobile terminalsas well.

Here, considering the mobile terminal 100 as at least one set, theterminal body may be understood as a conception referring to the set.

The mobile terminal 100 will generally include a case (for example,frame, housing, cover, and the like) forming the appearance of theterminal. In this embodiment, the case is formed using a front case 101and a rear case 102. Various electronic components are incorporated intoa space formed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. Atleast one middle case may be additionally positioned between the frontcase 101 and the rear case 102.

The display unit 151 is shown located on the front side of the terminalbody to output information. As illustrated, a window 151 a of thedisplay unit 151 may be mounted to the front case 101 to form the frontsurface of the terminal body together with the front case 101.

In some embodiments, electronic components may also be mounted to therear case 102. Examples of such electronic components include adetachable battery 191, an identification module, a memory card, and thelike. Rear cover 103 is shown covering the electronic components, andthis cover may be detachably coupled to the rear case 102. Therefore,when the rear cover 103 is detached from the rear case 102, theelectronic components mounted to the rear case 102 are externallyexposed.

As illustrated, when the rear cover 103 is coupled to the rear case 102,a side surface of the rear case 102 is partially exposed. In some cases,upon the coupling, the rear case 102 may also be completely shielded bythe rear cover 103. In some embodiments, the rear cover 103 may includean opening for externally exposing a camera 121 b or an audio outputmodule 152 b.

The cases 101, 102, 103 may be formed by injection-molding syntheticresin or may be formed of a metal, for example, stainless steel (STS),aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), or the like.

As an alternative to the example in which the plurality of cases form aninner space for accommodating components, the mobile terminal 100 may beconfigured such that one case forms the inner space. In this example, amobile terminal 100 having a uni-body is formed in such a manner thatsynthetic resin or metal extends from a side surface to a rear surface.

If desired, the mobile terminal 100 may include a waterproofing unit(not shown) for preventing introduction of water into the terminal body.For example, the waterproofing unit may include a waterproofing memberwhich is located between the window 151 a and the front case 101,between the front case 101 and the rear case 102, or between the rearcase 102 and the rear cover 103, to hermetically seal an inner spacewhen those cases are coupled.

The mobile terminal 100 may include a display unit 151, first and secondaudio output module 152 a and 152 b, a proximity sensor 141, anillumination sensor 142, an optical output module 154, first and secondcameras 121 a and 121 b, first and second manipulation units 123 a and123 b, a microphone 122, an interface unit 160, and the like.

Hereinafter, as illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C, description will begiven of the exemplary mobile terminal 100 in which the front surface ofthe terminal body is shown having the display unit 151, the first audiooutput module 152 a, the proximity sensor 141, the illumination sensor142, the optical output module 154, the first camera 121 a, and thefirst manipulation unit 123 a, the side surface of the terminal body isshown having the second manipulation unit 123 b, the microphone 122, andthe interface unit 160, and the rear surface of the terminal body isshown having the second audio output module 152 b and the second camera121 b.

However, those components may not be limited to the arrangement. Somecomponents may be omitted or rearranged or located on differentsurfaces. For example, the first manipulation unit 123 a may be locatedon another surface of the terminal body, and the second audio outputmodule 152 b may be located on the side surface of the terminal bodyother than the rear surface of the terminal body.

The display unit 151 outputs information processed in the mobileterminal 100. For example, the display unit 151 may display executionscreen information of an application program executing at the mobileterminal 100 or user interface (UI) and graphic user interface (GUI)information in response to the execution screen information.

The display unit 151 may be implemented using one or more suitabledisplay devices. Examples of such suitable display devices include aliquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystaldisplay (TFT-LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flexibledisplay, a 3-dimensional (3D) display, an e-ink display, andcombinations thereof.

The display unit 151 may be implemented using two display devices, whichcan implement the same or different display technology. For instance, aplurality of the display units 151 may be arranged on one side, eitherspaced apart from each other, or these devices may be integrated, orthese devices may be arranged on different surfaces.

The display unit 151 may also include a touch sensor which senses atouch input received at the display unit. When a touch is input to thedisplay unit 151, the touch sensor may be configured to sense this touchand the controller 180, for example, may generate a control command orother signal corresponding to the touch. The content which is input inthe touching manner may be a text or numerical value, or a menu itemwhich can be indicated or designated in various modes.

The touch sensor may be configured in a form of a film having a touchpattern, disposed between the window 151 a and a display on a rearsurface of the window 151 a, or a metal wire which is patterned directlyon the rear surface of the window 151 a. Alternatively, the touch sensormay be integrally formed with the display. For example, the touch sensormay be disposed on a substrate of the display or within the display.

The display unit 151 may also form a touch screen together with thetouch sensor. Here, the touch screen may serve as the user input unit123 (see FIG. 1A). Therefore, the touch screen may replace at least someof the functions of the first manipulation unit 123 a.

The first audio output module 152 a may be implemented in the form of areceiver for transferring call sounds to a user's ear and the secondaudio output module 152 b may be implemented in the form of a loudspeaker to output alarm sounds, multimedia audio reproduction, and thelike.

The window 151 a of the display unit 151 will typically include anaperture to permit audio generated by the first audio output module 152a to pass. One alternative is to allow audio to be released along anassembly gap between the structural bodies (for example, a gap betweenthe window 151 a and the front case 101). In this case, a holeindependently formed to output audio sounds may not be seen or isotherwise hidden in terms of appearance, thereby further simplifying theappearance and manufacturing of the mobile terminal 100.

The optical output module 154 can be configured to output light forindicating an event generation. Examples of such events include amessage reception, a call signal reception, a missed call, an alarm, aschedule alarm, an email reception, information reception through anapplication, and the like. When a user has checked a generated event,the controller 180 can control the optical output module 154 to stop thelight output.

The first camera 121 a can process image frames such as still or movingimages obtained by the image sensor in a capture mode or a video callmode. The processed image frames can then be displayed on the displayunit 151 or stored in the memory 170.

The first and second manipulation units 123 a and 123 b are examples ofthe user input unit 123, which may be manipulated by a user to provideinput to the mobile terminal 100. The first and second manipulationunits 123 a and 123 b may also be commonly referred to as a manipulatingportion, and may employ any tactile method that allows the user toperform manipulation such as touch, push, scroll, or the like. The firstand second manipulation units 123 a and 123 b may also employ anynon-tactile method that allows the user to perform manipulation such asproximity touch, hovering, or the like.

FIG. 1B illustrates the first manipulation unit 123 a as a touch key,but possible alternatives include a mechanical key, a push key, a touchkey, and combinations thereof.

Input received at the first and second manipulation units 123 a and 123b may be used in various ways. For example, the first manipulation unit123 a may be used by the user to provide an input to a menu, home key,cancel, search, or the like, and the second manipulation unit 123 b maybe used by the user to provide an input to control a volume level beingoutput from the first or second audio output modules 152 a or 152 b, toswitch to a touch recognition mode of the display unit 151, or the like.

As another example of the user input unit 123, a rear input unit (notshown) may be located on the rear surface of the terminal body. The rearinput unit can be manipulated by a user to provide input to the mobileterminal 100. The input may be used in a variety of different ways. Forexample, the rear input unit may be used by the user to provide an inputfor power on/off, start, end, scroll, control volume level being outputfrom the first or second audio output modules 152 a or 152 b, switch toa touch recognition mode of the display unit 151, and the like. The rearinput unit may be configured to permit touch input, a push input, orcombinations thereof.

The rear input unit may be located to overlap the display unit 151 ofthe front side in a thickness direction of the terminal body. As oneexample, the rear input unit may be located on an upper end portion ofthe rear side of the terminal body such that a user can easilymanipulate it using a forefinger when the user grabs the terminal bodywith one hand. Alternatively, the rear input unit can be positioned atmost any location of the rear side of the terminal body.

Embodiments that include the rear input unit may implement some or allof the functionality of the first manipulation unit 123 a in the rearinput unit. As such, in situations where the first manipulation unit 123a is omitted from the front side due to the touch screen or rear inputunit replacing at least some functions of the first manipulation unit123 a provided on the front of the terminal body, the display unit 151can have a larger screen.

As a further alternative, the mobile terminal 100 may include a fingerscan sensor which scans a user's fingerprint. The controller 180 canthen use fingerprint information sensed by the finger scan sensor aspart of an authentication procedure. The finger scan sensor may also beinstalled in the display unit 151 or implemented in the user input unit123.

The microphone 122 is shown located at an end of the mobile terminal100, but other locations are possible. If desired, multiple microphonesmay be implemented, with such an arrangement permitting the receiving ofstereo sounds.

The interface unit 160 may serve as a path allowing the mobile terminal100 to interface with external devices. For example, the interface unit160 may include one or more of a connection terminal for connecting toanother device (for example, an earphone, an external speaker, or thelike), a port for near field communication (for example, an InfraredData Association (IrDA) port, a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port, andthe like), or a power supply terminal for supplying power to the mobileterminal 100. The interface unit 160 may be implemented in the form of asocket for accommodating an external card, such as SubscriberIdentification Module (SIM), User Identity Module (UIM), or a memorycard for information storage.

The second camera 121 b is shown located at the rear side of theterminal body and includes an image capturing direction that issubstantially opposite to the image capturing direction of the firstcamera unit 121 a.

The second camera 121 b can include a plurality of lenses arranged alongat least one line. The plurality of lenses may also be arranged in amatrix configuration. The cameras may be referred to as an “arraycamera.” When the second camera 121 b is implemented as an array camera,images may be captured in various manners using the plurality of lensesand images with better qualities.

A flash 124 is shown adjacent to the second camera 121 b. When an imageof a subject is captured with the camera 121 b, the flash 124 mayilluminate the subject.

The second audio output module 152 b can be located on the terminalbody. The second audio output module 152 b may implement stereophonicsound functions in conjunction with the first audio output module 152 a,and may be also used for implementing a speaker phone mode for callcommunication.

At least one antenna for wireless communication may be located on theterminal body. The antenna may be installed in the terminal body orformed by the case. For example, an antenna which configures a part ofthe broadcast receiving module 111 may be retractable into the terminalbody. Alternatively, an antenna may be formed using a film attached toan inner surface of the rear cover 103, or a case that includes aconductive material.

A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100may include a battery 191, which is mounted in the terminal body ordetachably coupled to an outside of the terminal body.

The battery 191 may receive power via a power source cable connected tothe interface unit 160. Also, the battery 191 can be recharged in awireless manner using a wireless charger. Wireless charging may beimplemented by magnetic induction or electromagnetic resonance.

The rear cover 103 is shown coupled to the rear case 102 for shieldingthe battery 191, to prevent separation of the battery 191, and toprotect the battery 191 from an external impact or from foreignmaterial. When the battery 191 is detachable from the terminal body, therear case 103 may be detachably coupled to the rear case 102.

An accessory for protecting an appearance or assisting or extending thefunctions of the mobile terminal 100 can also be provided on the mobileterminal 100. As one example of an accessory, a cover or pouch forcovering or accommodating at least one surface of the mobile terminal100 may be provided. The cover or pouch may cooperate with the displayunit 151 to extend the function of the mobile terminal 100. Anotherexample of the accessory is a touch pen for assisting or extending atouch input to a touch screen.

Hereinafter, description will be given of exemplary embodimentsassociated with a control method which can be implemented in the mobileterminal having such configuration, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that thepresent disclosure can be specified into other particular forms withoutdeparting from the spirit and essential characteristics of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view illustrating operations implementedaccording to the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a display unit 251 is provided with a firstregion A located on a front surface of a terminal main body, and asecond region B extending from the first region A and located on sidesurfaces of the main body. The first region A and the second region Bdiffer from each other in a type of information displayed. The firstregion A and the second region B are divided according to differenttypes of user graphic interfaces (GUIs) provided thereto, respectively.

Also, the second region B is provided with a left-sided region B1 and aright-sided region B2 located at left and right side surfaces of theterminal, respectively. The second region B has a left-right symmetricstructure based on the first region A.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a home screen page may be output on the displayunit 251 of the mobile terminal. The home screen page may include atleast one object. The object may be an icon of an application installedin the mobile terminal or a widget. Here, the home screen page may beoutput over the first and second regions A and B, but the presentinvention may not be limited to this. For example, the home screen pagemay be output only on the first region A, and the second region may be atarget area to which a touch input is applied without an output ofinformation.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the controller senses a touch input when the touchinput is applied to the second region B, and executes a controloperation associated with the touch input. In this example, when a touchinput is applied to a notification icon I notifying an event generation,information related to the event is output on the first region A.

Such operations associated with the touch onto the side surfaces shouldbe supported by hardware. Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of theterminal performing the operations of FIG. 2 will be described in moredetail. The present invention also provides a structure of implementingthe operations in hardware as well as implementing a larger screen byreducing a size of bezel.

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view illustrating one example of a mobileterminal in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a rearperspective view of the mobile terminal illustrated in FIG. 3A.

A mobile terminal 200 is described with reference to a bar-type terminalbody. However, the mobile terminal 200 may alternatively be implementedin any of a variety of different configurations. Examples of suchconfigurations include slide-type, folder-type, swing-type, andswivel-type in which two and more bodies are combined with each other ina relatively movable manner, and combinations thereof.

The mobile terminal 200 generally includes a case (for example, frame,housing, cover, and the like) forming the appearance of the terminal. Inthis embodiment, the case may be divided into a front case 201 and arear case 202 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B). Various electronic components areincorporated into a space formed between the front case 201 and the rearcase 202. At least one middle case may be additionally positionedbetween the front case 201 and the rear case 202.

The terminal body, generally the front case 201 is shown having adisplay unit 251, an audio output module 252, a camera module 221 andthe like. An interface 270 and the like may be disposed on side surfacesof the front case 201 and the rear case 202.

The display unit 251 occupies most of a main surface of the front case201. That is, the display unit 251 is disposed on the front surface ofthe terminal to display visual information. The display unit 251disclosed herein is configured in the form of extending up to anothersurface of the terminal in addition to the front surface of theterminal. In more detail, the display unit 251 is provided with a firstregion A located on the front surface, and a second region B (see FIG.2) extending from the first region A and located on the side surfaces ofthe main body.

For example, a window which is disposed on an upper surface of thedisplay unit 251 is configured in a manner that both side surfacesthereof are curved. Accordingly, the appearance of the front surface andthe side surface of the terminal body is defined by the window.Therefore, the first region 261 and the second region 262 may beconnected without a physical boundary therebetween. Here, the displayunit 251 may be provided with a display device which is formed in acurved shape and embedded to correspond to the window.

As another example, the display unit 251 may be a flexible display. Theflexible display refers to a display which is curved, bent, twisted,folded, or rolled by an external force. Here, the flexible display unitmay include both a general flexible display and an electronic paper.

The typical flexible display is generally formed as a lightweight,non-fragile display, which still exhibits characteristics of aconventional flat panel display, but is instead fabricated on a thinflexible substrate which can be curved, bent, folded, or rolled, like apaper.

The term e-paper refers to a display technology employing thecharacteristic of a general ink, and is different from the conventionalflat panel display in view of using reflected light. E-paper isgenerally understood as changing pictures or text using a twist ball orvia electrophoresis using a capsule.

According to the characteristic of the flexible material, a terminalmain body in which both side surfaces of the display unit are curved maybe configured.

The audio output module 252 and the camera module 221 may be disposed ona region adjacent to one of both end portions of the display unit 251,and a front input unit (not illustrated) and a microphone 222 may bedisposed on a region adjacent to the other end portion.

The front input unit is an example of a user input unit 230 (see FIG.1), which may include a plurality of manipulation units. Themanipulation units may be referred to as a manipulating portion, and mayemploy any tactile method that allows the user to perform manipulationwith applying a tactile feeling.

Also, the display unit 251 may form a touch screen along with a touchsensor, and in this case, the touch screen may be a user input unit.This may allow for employing a configuration without a front input uniton the front surface of the terminal. That is, the first region 252 maybe the only one input unit located on the front surface of the terminal.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the rear surface of the terminal body, namely, therear case 202 may be further provided with a camera module 221′. Thecamera module 221′ may have an image capturing direction that issubstantially opposite to the image capturing direction of the cameramodule 221 (see FIG. 3A), and have different pixels from the cameramodule 221.

For example, the camera module 221 has a smaller number of pixels tocapture an image of the user's face and transmits such image to anotherparty, and the camera module 221′ has a larger number of pixels tocapture an image of a general object and not immediately transmits it inmost cases. The first and the second camera modules 221 and 221′ may beinstalled on the terminal body such that they can be rotatable or poppedup.

A flash and a mirror may be additionally disposed adjacent to the cameramodule 221′. When an image of a subject is captured with the cameramodule 221′, the flash may illuminate the subject. The mirror may allowthe user to see himself or herself when he or she wants to capture hisor her own image (i.e., self-image capturing) by using the camera module221′.

An audio output unit (not illustrated) may be further disposed on therear surface of the terminal body. The rear audio output module mayimplement stereophonic sound functions in conjunction with the frontaudio output module 252 (refer to FIG. 3A), and may be also used forimplementing a speaker phone mode for call communication.

That is, the front audio output module 252 (first audio output module)configured as a receiver may be located on the front surface of theterminal, and the second audio output module configured as a speaker maybe located on the rear surface. However, the present disclosure may notbe limited to this, and the second audio output module may be providedon the side surface of the terminal.

The terminal body is provided with a power supply unit for supplyingpower to the mobile terminal 200. The power supply unit 290 may beembedded in the terminal body or detachably coupled to an outside of theterminal body.

As illustrated, a rear input unit 232 may be disposed on the rearsurface of the terminal body. The rear input unit 232, for example, maybe located below the camera module 221′.

The rear input unit 232 can be manipulated by a user to provide input ofa command for controlling an operation of the mobile terminal 200. Theinput may be used in a variety of different ways. For example, the rearinput unit 232 may be manipulated by the user to input commands such aspower on/off, start, end, scroll, and command such as a control of avolume level output from the audio output module 252, switching of atouch recognition mode of the display unit 251, and the like. Thepresent disclosure, however, may not be limited to this, and theterminal may include one or both of the front input unit and the rearinput unit 232.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a mobile terminal having a displaymodule. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a display 330, a touch sensor 320 anda window 310 are provided on a frame 340. The frame, 340, the display330, the touch sensor 320 and the window 310 may all be curved towardside surfaces of the main body. Here, a bezel by the display 330 of themobile terminal is as thin as corresponding approximately to a thicknessof the window 310.

The bezel may have the least size when the window 310 is curved (bent)by 90°, in case where the window 310 is curved with a radius ofcurvature R at a point 0 located within the terminal. However, there isa case where the window 310 fails to be curved by 90° due to a processproblem. That is, there is a case where an angle α illustrated in FIG. 4is smaller than 90°.

For example, when curved by 90°, the window 310 is likely to be broken.As such, if the window 310 fails to be curved by 90°, the window 310should first be curved as much as possible and then the rest portion,namely, a portion corresponding to D in FIG. 4 should be formed by usinganother member, other than the window 310. Even in this instance, glassmay also be used but there is still a problem that the glass has to bebonded to the window 310. Therefore, one embodiment disclosed hereinwill be given limitedly of an example using another member, other thanthe glass. Here, the portion D may correspond to a side bezel where anyimage is not displayed when the mobile terminal is viewed in a lateraldirection, but the side bezel has no relationship to a bezel when themobile terminal is viewed in a front direction. So, detailed descriptionwill be omitted.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal 300 inaccordance with a first exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, FIG. 6 isa partially-exploded perspective view of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is asectional view taken along the lines AA, BB and CC of FIG. 5.Hereinafter, the first exemplary embodiment disclosed herein will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

A mobile terminal 300 in accordance with a first exemplary embodimentdisclosed herein may include a main body having front and side surfaces,a window 310 disposed on a top of the main body and curved (or bent)from the front surface to one point of each side surface so as to defineat least part of each side surface, a touch sensor 320 disposed on arear surface of the window 310 and curved along the shape of the window310, a display 330 disposed on a rear surface of the touch sensor 320and curved along the shape of the touch sensor 320, a frame 340 disposedon a rear surface of the display 330 and having a shape corresponding tothe display 330 to support the display 330, and supporters to supportends of the window 310, the touch sensor 320 and the display 330. Also,a rear surface of the main body is covered with a rear case 380.

Here, the touch sensor 320 and the display 330, as illustrated in FIG.7, are longer or wider than the window 310 by an externally-exposedregion thereof. That is, the touch sensor 320 and the display 330 areformed longer than the window 310 by the portion D, as illustrated in asupporting member 370 of FIG. 4.

The above structure is similarly employed in second to fourth exemplaryembodiments to be explained later. Specifically, the touch sensor 320and the display unit 330 are formed longer than the window 310, suchthat a region longer than the display 310 can be externally exposedbefore the touch sensor 320 and the display 330 are coupled. Here, thewindow 310 which is shorter than the touch sensor 320 and the display330 is supported by the supporter so as to be stably coupled.

The frame 340 according to the first exemplary embodiment disclosedherein, as illustrated in FIG. 6, includes a front surface portion 341facing the front surface and forming a flat or curved surface, and sidesurface portions 342 each extending from the front surface portion 341and curved toward the side surface of the main body. The side surfaceportion 342 may be formed to be almost perpendicular to the frontsurface portion 341, and a curved section of the side surface portion342, unlike the window 310, can exceed 90°.

Here, the touch sensor 320 and the display 330 are curved to correspondto a curved shape of the window 310. When the front surface portion 341of the frame 340 is curved, the display 330, the touch sensor 320 andthe window 310 are curved accordingly. A printed circuit board 350 isdisposed below the frame 340 to perform a function of the controller180.

The first exemplary embodiment includes the supporting members 370 forsupporting the window 310. The supporting members 370 also support thetouch sensor 320 and the display 330 as well as the window 310, and arelocated between the frame 340 and the rear case 380. Each of thesupporting members 370 includes a vertical portion 371 that is locatedbelow the window 310 to come in contact with a lower end portion of thewindow 310 for support, and a horizontal portion 372 which is formedperpendicular to the vertical portion 371 to support the touch sensor320 and the display 330. The horizontal portion 372 may be provided witha plurality of through holes 373 which face a top. Each of the throughholes 373 is configured such that both of a first protrusion 343protruding from a lower end of the frame 340 and a second protrusion 381protruding from an edge of the upper surface of the rear case 380 areinserted therein.

In such a manner, the frame 340 and the rear case 380 may be engagedwith the supporting members 370 in a manner that the first protrusion343 and the second protrusion 381 are simultaneously inserted into onethrough hole 373 and are fixed in a closely-adhered state. FIG. 7Billustrates that the first protrusion 343 is formed more outside and thesecond protrusion 381 is formed more inside, but the present inventionmay not be limited to this. The first protrusion 343 may also be formedmore inside.

FIG. 7A illustrates that the vertical portion 371 of the supportingmember 370 comes in contact with the window 310, and the touch sensor320, the display unit 330 and the frame 340 are mounted on thehorizontal portion 372. FIG. 7B illustrates that the first protrusion343 formed on the lower end of the frame 340 and the second protrusion381 protruding from the upper surface of the rear case 380 are insertedinto the through hole 373. The first protrusion 343 is formed to havethe same height as the through hole 373 formed at the horizontal portion372.

Here, the supporting member 370 partially defines the appearance of themobile terminal 300. Thus, the supporting member 370 may have a smoothlycurved surface from a portion contacting the window 310 to a portioncontacting the rear case 380. That is, that the vertical portion 371 andthe horizontal portion 372 are perpendicular to each other merelyindicates that portions thereof forming a space for mounting the touchsensor 320, the display 330 and the frame 340 are approximatelyperpendicular to each other, but does not indicate that the entiresupporting member 370 is exactly formed in the perpendicular shape.

Here, a portion which is formed longer than the display 330 in FIG. 7Bcorresponds to the first protrusion 343. Also, a battery 390 is disposedbeneath the rear case 380 to cover the rear surface of the main body.This will be equally applied to battery covers 490 and 590 according tothe second and third exemplary embodiments to be explained later.

Here, the window 310, the touch sensor 320 and the display 330 may beintegrally formed into a single display module 301.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal 400 inaccordance with a second exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, FIG. 9is a partially-exploded perspective view of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is asectional view taken along the lines AA, BB and CC of FIG. 8.Hereinafter, the second exemplary embodiment disclosed herein will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. Repetitive description of thesame/like configurations to the first exemplary embodiment will beomitted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, a window 410, a touch sensor 420 and adisplay 430, similar to the first embodiment, are curved at sidesurfaces of the terminal. This is also similar to a frame 440. That is,the display 430, the touch sensor 420 and the window 410 disposed on theframe 440 are curved toward the side surfaces in a corresponding shape,similar to the first embodiment. Also, the window 410, the touch sensor420 and the display 430 may be integrally formed into a single displaymodule 401.

Here, the first exemplary embodiment has illustrated that the supportingmembers 370 support the touch sensor 320, the display 330 and the frame340 as well as the window 310. However, the second exemplary embodimentemploys mold members 415, instead of the supporting members 370. Themold members 415 may be formed on lower ends of the window 410 in alengthwise direction of the mobile terminal 400 through aninsert-injection molding operation. As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B,the mold member 415 is as high as a portion at which the window 410 isformed shorter than the display 430.

In the second exemplary embodiment, the mold member 415 may correspondto the vertical portion 371 of the supporting member 370 of the firstexemplary embodiment. However, in the second exemplary embodiment, aportion corresponding to the horizontal portion 372 of the supportingmember 370 is formed by the frame 440. More specifically, as illustratedin FIG. 9, the frame 440 includes a front surface portion 441 that facesa front surface of the main body and is formed in a flat or curvedshape, and a side surface portion 442 that extends from the frontportion 441 and forms a curved surface curved toward the side surface ofthe mobile terminal 400.

In addition, in the second exemplary embodiment, the frame 440 furtherincludes an edge portion 443 that protrudes from a lower end of the sidesurface portion 442 in a horizontal direction. The edge portion 443 isformed in a flat shape such that the mold member 415, the touch sensor420 and the display 430 are flush with one another. However, the presentinvention may not be limited to this. As illustrated in a thirdexemplary embodiment to be explained later, a portion coming in contactwith the mold member 415 may more protrude such that the touch sensor420 and the display 430 can be fixedly inserted more stably.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the mold member 415, the touchsensor 420 and the display 430 are mounted on the edge portion 443. Athird protrusion 481 protrudes from an edge of an upper surface of therear case 480 and comes in contact with an inner side surface of theframe 440. That is, the third protrusion 481 closely comes in contactwith an inner side of the side surface portion 442 of the frame 440, andthus the frame 440 is firmly fixed to a rear case 480.

In the second exemplary embodiment, the mold member 415 may bemodularized with the window 410 at the side end of the window 410through the insert-injection molding operation. In addition, the window410, the mold member 415, the touch sensor 420 and the display 430 maybe integrated into a single module. Here, a printed circuit board 450,as similar to the first exemplary embodiment, is located between theframe 440 and the rear case 480.

Here, the frame 440 may extend down to a lower end portion of the sidesurface of the main body, and the rear surface of the frame 440 may becovered with the rear case 480 and the battery cover 490.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal 500 inaccordance with a third exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, FIG. 9 isa partially-exploded perspective view of FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is asectional view taken along the lines AA and BB of FIG. 11. Hereinafter,the third exemplary embodiment disclosed herein will be explained withreference to FIGS. 11 to 13. Detailed description of the same/likeconfigurations to the foregoing first and second exemplary embodimentswill be omitted in the third exemplary embodiment.

The third exemplary embodiment is similar to the second exemplaryembodiment in that a window 510, a touch sensor 520 and a display 530are mounted on a frame 540, but different from the second exemplaryembodiment in view of replacing the mold member 415 with a protrudingportion 544 protruding from the frame 540. That is, a supporting memberin the third exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B,are the very frame 540. More specifically, the frame 540 includes afront surface portion 541 that faces a front surface and has a flat orcurved surface, and a side surface portion 542 that extends from thefront portion 541 and faces a side surface. The frame 540 furtherincludes a recess portion 543 that extends from the side surface portion542 and is recessed toward a bottom, and a protruding portion 544 thatextends from the recess portion 543 and protrudes toward a top. That is,the recess portion 543 and the protruding portion 544 perform thefunction of the supporting member 370 in the first exemplary embodiment.Here, the protruding portion 544 is externally exposed so as to define apart of the appearance of the mobile terminal 500.

Also, fourth protrusions 581 are formed at an edge of an upper surfaceof the rear case 580. Each of the fourth protrusions 581 is closelyadhered onto an inner side of the side portion 542 of the frame 540 soas to more enhance firm fixing between the frame 540 and the rear case580. The fourth protrusion 581 is formed approximately as high as therecess portion 543.

Here, a plurality of jig holes 545 are formed on the side portion 542,as illustrated in FIG. 12. The jig holes 545 are holes in which jigs(not illustrated) are partially inserted. The jigs facilitate the window510, the touch sensor 520 and the display 530 to be mounted in therecess portion 543. For example, a bar may be inserted through the jighole 545 from an inside of the jig hole 545 so as to be externallyexposed. The window 510, the touch sensor 520 and the display 530 arethen placed on the externally-exposed bar so as to be guided up to therecess portion 543.

The jig hole 545 is merely illustrated in the third exemplaryembodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this. The firstand second exemplary embodiments may similarly employ the jig hole 545to facilitate the mounting of the window 510, the touch sensor 520 andthe display 530.

In such a manner, the third exemplary embodiment has illustrated thatthe frame 540 which has already been used is changed in shape to definea space for mounting the window 510, the touch sensor 520 and thedisplay 530 thereon and the protruding portion 544 comes in contact withthe lower end of the window 510. A printed circuit board 550 is disposedbetween the frame 540 and the rear case 580. Here, the third exemplaryembodiment is configured such that the frame 540 extends from the insideto outside of the main body to accommodate thereon the window 510, thetouch sensor 520 and the display 530, without an additional member,thereby simplifying a fabrication process.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a mobile terminal 600 in accordancewith a fourth exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, FIG. 15 is anexploded perspective view of FIG. 14, FIG. 16 is a partially-explodedperspective view of FIG. 15, FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of adecoration member and a window of a mobile terminal in accordance withone exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, FIGS. 18A and 18B are lateralviews of part C of FIG. 14, FIG. 19A through 19C are views illustratingcurvatures of a decoration member in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment disclosed herein, FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along theline AA of FIG. 14.

Hereinafter, the fourth exemplary embodiment disclosed herein will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 14 to 20.

Detailed description of the same/like configurations to the foregoingfirst to third exemplary embodiments will be omitted in the fourthexemplary embodiment.

A supporting member in the fourth exemplary embodiment is formed byextending a rear case 680. The third exemplary embodiment uses anexisting frame 640, but the fourth exemplary embodiment uses the rearcase 680.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a mobile terminal in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein. As illustrated in FIG.4, a mobile terminal in accordance with one exemplary embodimentdisclosed herein may be configured to be thinner because a front case101 and a rear case 380 are integrally formed with each other. That is,the aforementioned mobile terminal 100 is configured such that thedisplay unit 151 is provided on the front case 101 and variouselectronic components are located in a space between the front case 101and the rear case 102. However, in the one exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, a window 310, a touch sensor 320 and a display 330are provided on the rear case 380 and various electronic components arelocated between the rear case 380 and a battery cover 390.

Here, the frame 340, as illustrated in FIG. 4, includes a front surfaceportion 341 facing the front surface of the terminal (or the main body)and having a flat or curved surface, and side surface portions 341 eachextending from the front surface portion 341 and curved toward the sidesurface of the terminal. The side surface portion 342 is formed to bealmost perpendicular to the front surface portion 341, and a curvedsection of the side surface portion 342, unlike the window 310, canexceed 90°. For example, the front surface portion 341 may be formed ina curved shape, for example, formed to be convex toward the frontsurface of the terminal. FIG. 4 merely illustrates an example that thefront surface portion 341 is formed in a flat shape.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a mobile terminal 600 in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, FIG. 15 is an explodedperspective view of FIG. 14, and FIG. 16 is partially-explodedperspective view of FIG. 15.

Hereinafter, one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 14 to 16, and it is assumed that a widthwisedirection of the mobile terminal 600 is an X-axial direction, alengthwise direction is an Y-axial direction, and a thickness directionis a Z-axial direction.

A mobile terminal 600 in accordance with one exemplary embodimentdisclosed herein may include a main body having front and side surfaces,a window 610 curved (or bent) from the front surface to one point ofeach side surface so as to define at least a part of each side surface,a touch sensor 620 disposed on a rear surface of the window 610 andcurved along the shape of the window 610, a display 630 disposed on arear surface of the touch sensor 620 and curved along the shape of thetouch sensor 620, a frame 640 disposed on a rear surface of the display630 and having a shape corresponding to the display 630 to support thedisplay 630, and a rear case 680 covering a rear surface of the mainbody.

The rear case 680 includes supporting members 370 to support ends of thewindow 610, the touch sensor 620, and the display 630.

Here, since the touch sensor 620 and the display 630 are formed longerthan the window 610 toward the side surfaces of the main body, thesupporting members 370 are components for supporting the window 610while coming in contact with the window 610.

The touch sensor 620 and the display 630, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 to20, are longer or wider than the window 610 by an externally-exposedregion thereof. That is, as illustrated in relation to the supportingmember 370 of FIG. 4, the touch sensor 620 and the display 630 areformed longer than the window 610 by the portion D.

The supporting member 370 in the fourth exemplary embodiment disclosedherein is formed by extending from the rear case 680, namely, by usingthe already-used rear case 680.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 14, and FIG. 20 is asectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 14. As illustrated inFIGS. 15 and 20, the rear case 680 includes an accommodating portion 685that accommodates therein the touch sensor 620 and the display 630, anda sidewall portion 683 that upwardly extends from an end of theaccommodating portion 685 to come in contact with the window 610. Theaccommodating portion 685 is more recessed than the other portion of therear case 680 such that the touch sensor 620 and the display 630 can beeasily accommodated therein. That is, the supporting member 370corresponds to the same portion as the sidewall portion 683.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 15, the rear case 680 includes the sidewallportion 683 that is formed long in an Y-axial direction, a bottomsurface portion 681 that extends from the sidewall portion 683 in anX-axial direction to be perpendicular to the sidewall portion 683 and isformed higher than the sidewall portion 683 in a Z-axial direction, anda curved surface portion 682 that is curved to connect the bottomsurface portion 681 and the sidewall portion 683 to each other.

A decoration member 615 is further provided at one side of the window610. The decoration member 615 has the same thickness as the window 610and is mounted on the bottom surface portion 681 and the curved surfaceportion 682. The curved surface portion 682 should have a shapecorresponding to an end portion of the decoration member 615.

The decoration member 615 includes a main surface portion 615 a that isformed on a front surface thereof and occupies most of the frontsurface, and a curved portion 615 b that extends from the main surfaceportion 615 a and is curved to be mounted on the curved surface portion682. That is, the decoration member 615 is a component for smoothlyconnecting the curved surface portion 682 and the window 610 to eachother. The curved surface portion 682 and the curved portion 615 b havethe corresponding shapes so as to be engaged with each other.

Also, in the one exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17,hooks 616 and 617 are utilized to fix the touch sensor 620 and thedisplay 630.

For example, a first hook 616 is formed on the main surface portion 615b of the decoration member 615, and a first hole 646 is formed on thefront surface portion 341 (see FIG. 4) of the frame 640. The first hook616 is then fixedly inserted into the first hole 646, to tightly securethe touch sensor 620 and the display 630 between the decoration member615 and the frame 640.

A second hook 617 is formed on the curved portion 615 b of thedecoration member 615, and a second hole 647 is formed on the sidesurface portion 342 (see FIG. 4) of the frame 640. The second hook 617is fixedly inserted into the second hole 647, to prevent the curvedportion 615 b from being detached. That is, the first hook 616 is usedfor the purpose of preventing a movement of the decoration member 615 inthe Z-axial direction, and the second hook 617 is used for the purposeof preventing the detachment of the decoration member 615 in the X-axialdirection.

Also, those drawings illustrate that the decoration member 615 islocated at a lower end of the mobile terminal 600, but may also beprovided at an upper end of the mobile terminal, if necessary. Here, thedecoration member 615 may be made of polycarbonate (PC), and generallyused for shielding a lower bezel of the mobile terminal 600. A bezel inone exemplary embodiment refers to a region on which an image signal isnot output of an entire region of the mobile terminal 600. The bezel isgenerally formed by a circuit (including a printed circuit board and aflexible printed circuit board) for driving the mobile terminal 600 or acase.

Meanwhile, FIG. 19A is a view of the mobile terminal 600, viewed in theZ-axial direction. The curved portion 615 b of the decoration member 615is formed with a curvature R1 on an XY plane. In one exemplaryembodiment, the decoration member 615 is disposed on the lower bezel andhas corner portions curved. That is, in the front view of the mobileterminal 600, as illustrated in FIG. 19A, four corners have a uniformradius R1. The one embodiment disclosed herein proposes a form that thedecoration member 615 and the rear case 680 are coupled to each other.

Also, FIG. 19B is a view of the mobile terminal 600, viewed in theX-axial direction, and FIG. 19C is a view of the mobile terminal 600,viewed in the Y-axial direction. The decoration member 615 has acurvature R2 on an YZ plane, and a curvature R3 on a ZX plane. As such,the decoration member 615 is three-dimensionally formed with thepredetermined curvatures.

The decoration member 615 with the curvatures, as illustrated in FIG.16, is disposed on the touch sensor 620, and the printed circuit board650 is disposed between the frame 640 and the rear case 680. Also, therear case 680 also includes a wide and flat cover portion 684 that isformed at one side of the accommodating portion 685 to cover the rearsurface of the main body.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are a lateral view and a sectional view of a part C ofFIG. 14, respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the touchsensor 620 and the display 630 are formed longer than the window 610 ina lengthwise direction (i.e., the Y-axial direction in FIG. 14) of themain body of the terminal.

As aforementioned, the decoration member 615 is curved with thepredetermined curvatures R1, R2 and R3 on the XY, YZ and ZX planes. Inorder to mount the decoration member 615 with the three-dimensionalcurvatures on the rear case 680, cutout portions 625 and 635 (see FIG.16) are formed at end portions of the touch sensor 620 and the display630, respectively, in one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein. Eachend portion with the cutout portion 625 and 635 of the touch sensor 620and the display 630 corresponds to the curved portion 615 b and asection from the curved portion 615 b to one point of the main surfaceportion 615 a. The cutout portions may also fully meet the purpose ofthe present invention as long as they are formed at side end portions ofthe touch sensor 620 and the display 630.

Since the curved portion 615 b of the decoration member 615 has thethree-dimensional curvatures along the X-axial, Y-axial and Z-axialdirections, when the touch sensor 620 and the display 630 extend up to aregion D2 illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B without the cutout portions625 and 635, a starting point that the decoration member 615 is curvedshould be moved to the left side of a boundary between the window 610and the decoration member 615 in FIGS. 18A and 18B, and accordingly thedecoration member 615 should have a more increased width D1.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 19A, the curved portion 615 b shouldbe inwardly curved with a predetermined curvature, starting from theboundary between the window 610 and the decoration member 615 within theXY plane. However, the curved portion 615 b cannot be inwardly curved ifthe cutout portions 625 and 635 are not formed. That is, the cutoutportions 625 and 635 may result in ensuring a space in which the curvedportion 615 b can be curved.

If the decoration member 615 increases in width, the lower bezel of themobile terminal 600 increases in size. To prevent this in the oneexemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the cutout portions 625and 635 are formed at the touch sensor 620 and the display 630. Theformation of the cutout portions 625 and 635 may allow the curvedportion 615 b of the decoration member 615 to have the curvatures in thethree-dimensional manner, without moving the starting point that thedecoration member 615 is curved to the left side of the boundary betweenthe window 610 and the decoration member 615 in FIGS. 18A and 18B. Thatis, the curved portion 615 b of the decoration member 615 can be curvedin the X-axial, Y-axial and Z-axial directions at the boundary betweenthe window 610 and the decoration member 615. This may result inpreventing an increase in the size of the lower bezel of the mobileterminal and simultaneously providing an attractive design.

The corner structure for reducing the lower bezel has been described,which will equally be applied to an upper bezel. That is, the decorationmember 615 which is disposed on an upper end of the mobile terminal andmounted on the bottom surface portion 681 and the curved surface portion682 may be formed. Here, the upper bezel, similar to the lower bezel,can be reduced in size.

Also, when the window 610 located on the top of the mobile terminal isconfigured to be curved with three-dimensional curvatures, similar tothe curved portion 615 b of the decoration member 615, and the cutoutportions 625 and 635 are formed at the touch sensor 620 and the display630, the upper bezel of the mobile terminal, similar to theaforementioned lower bezel, can be reduced in size.

In such a manner, according to one embodiment disclosed herein, thelower or upper bezel can be minimized in size. Here, since thedecoration member 615 is a portion where image information cannot beoutput, the first manipulation unit 123 a should be located within theregion of the display 630.

Meanwhile, the cutout portions 625 and 635 may also be formed at atleast a part of the region D2, or at least a part of a region D3.

Here, D1 refers to the width of the decoration member 615, and alsocorresponds to the size of the lower bezel of the mobile terminal 600.D2 refers to a region where the touch sensor 620 and the display 630 areformed longer than the window 610, and D3 refers to a stepped portion ofthe display 630, as illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B.

Here, when the cutout portions 625 and 635 are formed near the boundarybetween the decoration member 615 and the window 610, it is difficult toachieve the purpose for fixing the touch sensor 620 and the display 630by the first hook 616. Therefore, the cutout portions 625 and 635 arepreferably formed at a part of the region D3.

That is, the decoration member 615 should be located on the uppersurface of the touch sensor 620.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the rear case 680 includes a sidewall portion683 that is brought into contact with a window 610, and an accommodatingportion 685 that is formed at an inner side of the sidewall portion 683and accommodates a touch sensor 620 and a display 630 therein. Theaccommodating portion 685 is more recessed than the other portion of therear case 680 such that the touch sensor 620 and the display 630 can beeasily accommodated therein. Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 16, the rearcase 680 includes a bottom surface portion 681 that perpendicularlyextends from the sidewall portion 683 and is higher than the sidewallportion 683, and a curved surface portion 682 that is curved to connectthe bottom surface portion 681 and the sidewall portion 683 to eachother.

Meanwhile, a decoration member615 which has the same thickness as thewindow 610 is further provided at one side of the window 610, such thatthe bottom surface portion 681 and the curved surface portion 682 aremounted thereon. The decoration member615 includes a main surfaceportion 615 a that is formed on a front surface thereof and occupiesmost of the front surface, and a curved portion 615 b that extends fromthe main surface portion 615 a and is curved to be mounted on the curvedsurface portion 682. That is, the decoration member615 is aconfiguration for smoothly connecting the curved surface portion 682 andthe window 610 to each other. The curved surface portion 682 and thecurved portion 615 b may have the corresponding shapes so as to beengaged with each other.

Here, the decoration member615, as illustrated in FIG. 16, is located onan upper portion of the touch sensor 620, and a printed circuit board650 is disposed between the frame 640 and the rear case 680. Also, acover portion 684 for covering a rear surface of the terminal main bodyis widely formed at one side of the accommodating portion 685.

Meanwhile, one embodiment of the present invention may have a problem inview of a connection of a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) in casewhere side surfaces of a mobile terminal are curved.

FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view in case where a mobile terminal iscurved along a lengthwise direction thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 21,a window 10, a touch sensor 20 and a display 30 may all be curved in alengthwise direction (Y-direction) of the mobile terminal. Here, driveintegrated circuit (IC) chips 21 and 31 of the touch sensor 20 and thedisplay 30 are attached to lower ends of the touch sensor 20 and thedisplay 30, respectively, and connected to a printed circuit board (notillustrated) by FPCBs 25 and 35, respectively.

In such a manner, when the mobile terminal is curved in the lengthwisedirection, there is not a big problem in an arrangement space of thedrive IC chips 21 and 31. However, as illustrated in FIG. 22, when themobile terminal is curved in a widthwise direction (X-direction) of themobile terminal, there is a problem that portions to which the driver ICchips 21 and 31 are attached cannot be curved. That is, if the window 10is divided into a central region 10 b and both side surfaces 10 a and 10c, the window 10 may merely be curved at the both side surfaces 10 a and10 c, failing to be curved at the central region 10 b.

However, as illustrated in FIG. 23, if the driver IC chips 21 and 31 andthe FPCBs 25 and 35 are arranged on the side surface of the mobileterminal, the mobile terminal can be fully curved in the widthwisedirection thereof.

The present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 23, relates to a mobileterminal which is capable of being curved partially or entirely in awidthwise direction thereof by arranging FPCBs on a side surface of themobile terminal.

Hereinafter, a configuration therefor will be explained.

As aforementioned, FIG. 5 is the exploded perspective view of the mobileterminal 300 in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment disclosedherein, FIG. 6 is the partially-exploded perspective view of FIG. 5, andFIG. 7 is the sectional view taken along the lines AA, BB and CC of FIG.5. Hereinafter, a fifth exemplary embodiment will be described withreference to FIGS. 5 to 7. That is, the fifth exemplary embodiment isrelated to the first exemplary embodiment.

First, a mobile terminal 300 according to the fifth exemplary embodimentincludes a main body having front and side surfaces, a display module301 disposed on a top of the main body and curved from the front surfaceto the side surfaces to define at least parts of the side surfaces, aframe 340 disposed on a rear surface of the display module 301 andhaving a shape corresponding to the display module 301 to support thedisplay module 301, a rear case 380 covering a rear surface of the mainbody, a PCB 350 located between the frame 340 and the rear case 380, andan FPCB 360 having one end connected to a side surface of the displaymodule 301 and the other end electrically connected to the PCB 350.

Here, the FPCB 360 may be connected to the PCB 350 in a manner ofbypassing the frame 340 (see the fifth exemplary embodiment) orpenetrating through the frame 340 (see a sixth exemplary embodiment).

Here, the frame 340 includes a front surface portion 341 facing thefront surface of the mobile terminal and having a flat or curvedsurface, and a side surface portion 342 extending from the front surfaceportion 341 toward the side surface of the mobile terminal so as todefine at least a part of the side surface. The side surface portion 342is formed to be almost perpendicular to the front surface portion 341,and can have a curved section exceeding 90°, unlike the window 310. Theshapes of the front surface portion 341 and the side surface portion 342are also applied equally to the display module 301, and also to thesixth exemplary embodiment to be explained later.

Here, the touch sensor 320 and the display 330 are curved to correspondto the curved shape of the window 310. When the front surface portion341 of the frame 340 is curved, the display 330, the touch sensor 320and the window 310 are curved accordingly. The PCB 350 is locatedbeneath the frame 340 so as to perform a function of the controller 180.

The window 310, 410 in one embodiment disclosed herein is implemented asa single window. The touch sensor 320, 420 is located between the window310, 410 and the display 330, 430 to sense a touch input applied to thewindow 310, 410.

One embodiment disclosed herein may allow for an integral structure ofthe display 330 disposed on the upper surface of the frame 340 andcurved from the front surface toward the side surface, the touch sensor320 disposed on the upper surface of the display 330 and curved alongthe shape of the display 330 to form at least the part of the sidesurface, and the window 310 disposed on the upper surface of the touchsensor 320 to form the appearance of the mobile terminal. That is, thedisplay 330, the touch sensor 320 and the window 310 may be thecomponents of the display module 301. This is equally applied to thesixth exemplary embodiment to be explained later.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the supporting members 370 are disposed atboth sides in the lengthwise direction of the mobile terminal 300between the frame 340 and the rear case 380, to support lower portionsof the display module 301 and the side surface portions 342 of the frame340. Each of the supporting members 370 includes a vertical portion 371that connects the window 310 and the rear case 380 so as to define atleast a part of the appearance of the mobile terminal 300, and comes incontact with the window 310, and a horizontal portion 372 thataccommodates thereon the touch sensor 320, the display 330 and the frame340.

Here, since each supporting member 370 defines the part of theappearance of the mobile terminal 300, the supporting member 370 mayhave a smoothly curved surface from a portion contacting the window 310to portion contacting the rear case 380. That is, that the verticalportion 371 and the horizontal portion 372 are perpendicular to eachother merely indicates that portions thereof forming a space formounting the touch sensor 320, the display 330 and the frame 340 areapproximately perpendicular to each other, but does not indicate thatthe entire supporting member 370 is exactly formed in the perpendicularshape.

An accommodation groove 375 in which the FPCB 360 is mounted is formedalong the vertical portion 371 and the horizontal portion 372. Theaccommodation groove 375, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, includes afirst part 375 a recessed into the vertical portion 371, and a secondpart 375 b formed perpendicular to the first part 375 a and recessedinto the horizontal portion 372. Here, a sidewall 375 c which protrudesfrom the second part 375 b and has a step corresponding to a height ofthe horizontal portion 372 is formed.

Meanwhile, the FPCB 360 includes a first vertical portion 360 a that isaccommodated in the first part 375 a and connected to an end of thedisplay module 301, a first horizontal portion 360 b thatperpendicularly extends from the first vertical portion 360 a and isaccommodated in the second part 375 b, a second vertical portion 360 cthat extends from the first horizontal portion 360 b and is upwardlyformed along the sidewall 375 c, and a second horizontal portion 360 dthat extends from the second vertical portion 360 c over theaccommodating groove 375 so as to be connected to the PCB 350. Here, theFPCB 360 includes a first FPCB 361 that is connected to the touch sensor320 and the PCB 350 to realize a touch function, and a second FPCB 362that is connected to the display 330 and the PCB 350 to represent imageinformation. The first FPCB 361 and the second FPCB 362 have the sameshape and overlap each other.

Lower end portions of the frame 340, the touch sensor 320 and thedisplay 330 are placed on the first horizontal portion 360 b. That is,when the display module 301 and the frame 340 are coupled to thesupporting member 370, the FPCB 360 is pressed. Here, the FPCB 360 andthe PCB 350 may be connected to each other by a connector 365 (see FIG.7C).

Meanwhile, the horizontal portion 372 is provided with a first throughhole 373, in which a first protrusion 343 formed on an edge of the lowerend of the frame 340 and a second protrusion 381 protruding from an edgeof an upper surface of the rear case 380 are inserted. Referring to FIG.7B, it can be understood that the first through hole 373 is formed inplural through the horizontal portion 372 of the supporting member 370,and both of the first protrusion 343 protruding from the lower end ofthe frame 340 and the second protrusion 381 protruding from the uppersurface of the rear case 380 are simultaneously inserted into each firstthrough hole 373.

In such a manner, the frame 340 and the rear case 380 are engaged withthe supporting member 370 in the manner that both of the firstprotrusion 343 and the second protrusion 381 are simultaneously into thesingle through hole 373 in a closely-adhered state. FIG. 7B is asectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 5, which shows that thefirst protrusion 343 is formed more outside than the second protrusion381. The first protrusion 343 is as high as the first through hole 373formed through the horizontal portion 372.

FIG. 7C is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 5. The FPCB360 is connected to ends of the touch sensor 320 and the display 330 tobe mounted in the accommodation groove 375 formed at the supportingmember 370, and connected to the PCB 350 by the connector 365.

Here, the window 310 is formed along the side surface of the mobileterminal to be shorter than the touch sensor 320 and the display 330. Inthis instance, the part shorter than the touch sensor 320 and thedisplay 330 is supplemented by the supporting member 370. This may allowthe touch sensor 320 and the display 330 to be stably mounted on thesupporting member 370 together with the window 310.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal 400 according to a sixth exemplaryembodiment disclosed herein will be described. In the followingvariation or embodiment, the same/like reference numerals are given tothe same/like components to the foregoing embodiments, and descriptionthereof will be omitted. The sixth exemplary embodiment corresponds tothe aforementioned second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal inaccordance with another exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, FIG. 9 isa detailed-exploded perspective view of a part of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 isa sectional view taken along the lines AA, BB and CC of FIG. 8.Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

The fifth exemplary embodiment has illustrated that the shorter part ofthe window 310 is supplemented by the separate members, namely, thesupporting members 370, but the sixth exemplary embodiment illustratesthat the mold members 415 (i.e., glass-inserted molds) are formed at anend of the window 410 through an insert-injection molding operation.Each of the mold members 415 is formed along a lengthwise direction ofthe mobile terminal 400. The sixth exemplary embodiment is substantiallysimilar or the same to the fifth exemplary embodiment, except forreplacing the supporting member 370 with the mold member 415. Thus,detailed description of he similar configurations will be omitted.

In the sixth exemplary embodiment, a second through hole 445 is formedthrough a side surface portion 442 of a frame 440 to connect an FPCB 460and a PCB 450 to each other. The FPCB 460 is electrically connected tothe PCB 450 through the second through hole 445. An edge portion 443protrudes from a lower end of the side surface portion 442 of the frame440 in a horizontal direction. A third protrusion 481 is formed at anedge of an upper surface of a rear case 480 covering the frame 440 andbrought into contact with an inner side of the side surface portion 442of the frame 440.

That is, the frame 440 in the sixth exemplary embodiment, similar to thefifth exemplary embodiment, includes a front surface portion 441 thatfaces a front surface of the mobile terminal 400 and has a flat orcurved surface, a side surface portion 442 that extends from the frontsurface portion 441 and is curved toward a side surface of the mobileterminal 400, and an edge portion 443 that outwardly protrudes from theside surface portion 442 in a horizontal direction so as to define amounting space of the display module 301.

FIG. 10A is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 8. Asillustrated in FIG. 10A, side end portions of the mold member 415, thetouch sensor 420 and the display 430 are mounted on the edge portion443, and the third protrusion 481 allows the frame 440 to be more firmlycoupled to the rear case 480. FIG. 10B is a sectional view taken alongthe line BB of FIG. 8. It can be seen more obviously in FIG. 10B thatthe mold member 415, the touch sensor 420 and the display 430 aremounted on the edge portion 443 at a portion without the thirdprotrusion 481 formed. FIG. 10C is a sectional view taken along the lineCC of FIG. 10. As illustrated in FIG. 10C, the FPCB 460 is connected toends of the touch sensor 420 and the display 430, and connected to thePCB 450 by a connector 465 through the second through hole 445 formed atthe frame 440.

Here, a width of the edge portion 443 is the same as that of a displaymodule 401.

The window 310, 410, the touch sensor 320, 420, the display 330, 430 andthe frame 340, 440 may be integrated together so as to be configured asone display module 301, 401.

It should also be understood that the above-described embodiments arenot limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within itsscope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes andmodifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, orequivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to beembraced by the appended claims.

The aforementioned present disclosure can be implemented ascomputer-readable codes in a program-recorded medium. Thecomputer-readable medium may include all types of recording devices eachstoring data readable by a computer system. Examples of suchcomputer-readable media may include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape,floppy disk, optical data storage element and the like. Also, thecomputer-readable medium may also be implemented as a format of carrierwave (e.g., transmission via an Internet). The computer may include thecontroller 180 of the mobile terminal.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile terminal comprising: a windowcomprising: a flat portion at a front side of the mobile terminal; and acurved portion that curves from the front side towards a rear side ofthe mobile terminal and covers at least a portion of a lateral side ofthe mobile terminal; a touch sensor disposed at a rear side of thewindow; a display disposed at the rear side of the window; and a rearcase, wherein the curved portion of the window has an edge that, from alateral side viewpoint of the mobile terminal, has a first curvature,and wherein the rear case comprises a corner having a curved surfaceportion that, from the lateral side viewpoint of the mobile terminal,has a second curvature that accommodates the first curvature of the edgeof the curved portion of the window.
 2. The mobile terminal of claim 1,further comprising a frame that comprises: a front portion that facesthe front side of the mobile terminal; a side portion that extends fromthe front portion and curves to correspond to the curved portion of thewindow; and a printed circuit board located between the frame and therear case.
 3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the frame is fixedto the rear case.
 4. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein a surfaceof the front portion of the frame is flat or is a curved surface.
 5. Themobile terminal of claim 2, further comprising a flexible printedcircuit board connected to the display, wherein the frame defines atleast one through-hole through which the flexible printed circuit boardpasses to be connected to the printed circuit board.
 6. The mobileterminal of claim 1, wherein the rear case comprises: a cover portion; asidewall portion protruding towards the front side of the mobileterminal; and a bottom surface portion protruding towards the frontside, the bottom surface portion protruding further towards the frontside than the sidewall portion, wherein the curved surface portion ofthe corner of the rear case is curved to connect the sidewall portionand the bottom surface portion to each other while forming, from thelateral side viewpoint of the mobile terminal, the second curvature thataccommodates the first curvature of the edge of the curved portion ofthe window.
 7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the rear case hasa length along a lengthwise direction of the mobile terminal and a widthalong a widthwise direction of the mobile terminal, wherein the lengthis greater than its width, wherein the bottom surface portion comprisesa first portion that is orthogonal to the lengthwise direction, andwherein the first portion of the bottom surface portion is formed at alower end or an upper end of the mobile terminal and is externallyexposed.
 8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, further comprising: a coverforming a rear surface of the mobile terminal, wherein the rear case isconfigured to accommodate the cover therein, and wherein the cover islocated at a rear portion of the rear case.
 9. The mobile terminal ofclaim 6, wherein the bottom surface portion, the curved surface portion,and the sidewall portion form a continuous structure.
 10. The mobileterminal of claim 6, wherein a first edge of the bottom surface portionfacing towards the front side of the mobile terminal, a first edge ofthe curved surface portion facing the front side of the mobile terminal,and a first edge of the sidewall portion facing towards the front sideof the mobile terminal are connected to form a continuous edge.
 11. Themobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the edge of the curved portion ofthe window has, from a front viewpoint of the mobile terminal, a thirdcurvature, and from a bottom viewpoint of the mobile terminal, a fifthcurvature, and wherein the curved surface portion of the corner of therear case has, from the front viewpoint of the mobile terminal, a fourthcurvature that accommodates the third curvature of the edge of thecurved portion of the window, and from the bottom viewpoint of themobile terminal, a sixth curvature that accommodates the fifth curvatureof the edge of the curved portion of the window.
 12. The mobile terminalof claim 11, wherein the first curvature, the third curvature, and thefifth curvature are different from each other.
 13. The mobile terminalof claim 1, wherein the curved portion of the window extends in alengthwise direction of the mobile terminal along at least a part of thelateral side of the mobile terminal.
 14. The mobile terminal of claim 1,wherein the touch sensor and the display are curved to correspond to thecurved portion of the window.
 15. The mobile terminal of claim 1,wherein the display is disposed at a rear side of the touch sensor. 16.The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the display is implemented usingan organic light emitting diode (OLED).
 17. The mobile terminal of claim1, wherein: the curved portion of the window is a first curved portionthat covers a first lateral side of the mobile terminal, and the windowfurther comprises a second curved portion that curves from the frontside towards the rear side of the mobile terminal and covers at least aportion of a second lateral side of the mobile terminal that is oppositeof the first lateral side of the mobile terminal.
 18. The mobileterminal of claim 17, wherein the second curved portion of the windowhas a second edge that, from a second lateral side viewpoint of themobile terminal, has a third curvature that is symmetric to the firstcurvature of the first curved portion, and wherein the rear casecomprises a second corner having a second curved surface portion that,from the second lateral side viewpoint of the mobile terminal, has afourth curvature that accommodates the third curvature of the secondedge of the second curved portion of the window
 19. The mobile terminalof claim 1, further comprising at least one processor coupled to thetouch sensor and the display, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to cause the display to display information.
 20. A mobileterminal comprising: a window comprising: a flat portion at a front sideof the mobile terminal; and a curved portion that curves from the frontside towards a rear side of the mobile terminal and covers at least aportion of a lateral side of the mobile terminal, a touch sensordisposed at a rear side of the window; a display disposed at the rearside of the window; and a rear case comprising a bottom portion and asidewall portion, wherein the curved portion of the window has athree-dimensional curved edge, wherein the rear case comprises a cornerhaving a curved surface portion formed to accommodate thethree-dimensional curved edge of the curved portion of the window, thecurved surface portion comprising: from a front viewpoint of the mobileterminal, a first curve having a first center of curvature; from alateral side viewpoint of the mobile terminal, a second curve having asecond center of curvature; and from a bottom viewpoint of the mobileterminal, a third curve having a third center of curvature, wherein,from the front viewpoint of the mobile terminal, the first center ofcurvature is located at an interior side of the bottom portion and aninterior side of the sidewall portion, wherein, from the lateral sideviewpoint of the mobile terminal, the second center of curvature islocated further towards the front side of the mobile terminal than thesidewall portion, and wherein, from the bottom viewpoint of the mobileterminal, the third center of curvature is located at the rear side ofthe window.
 21. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the rear casecomprises: a cover portion; a sidewall portion protruding towards thefront side of the mobile terminal; and a bottom surface portionprotruding towards the front side, the bottom surface portion protrudingfurther towards the front side than the sidewall portion, wherein thecurved surface portion of the corner of the rear case is curved toconnect the sidewall portion and the bottom surface portion to eachother while forming, from the lateral side viewpoint of the mobileterminal, the second curvature that accommodates the first curvature ofthe edge of the curved portion of the window.
 22. The mobile terminal ofclaim 21, wherein the rear case has a length along a lengthwisedirection of the mobile terminal and a width along a widthwise directionof the mobile terminal, wherein the length is greater than its width,wherein the bottom surface portion comprises a first portion that isorthogonal to the lengthwise direction, and wherein the first portion ofthe bottom surface portion is formed at a lower end or an upper end ofthe mobile terminal and is externally exposed.
 23. The mobile terminalof claim 21, wherein the bottom surface portion, the curved surfaceportion, and the sidewall portion form a continuous structure.
 24. Amobile terminal comprising: a window comprising: a flat portion at afront side of the mobile terminal; and a curved portion that curves fromthe front side towards a rear side of the mobile terminal and covers atleast a portion of a lateral side of the mobile terminal; a touch sensordisposed at a rear side of the window; a display disposed at the rearside of the window; and a rear case, wherein the curved portion of thewindow has a corner portion, the corner portion having athree-dimensional curved edge in a Cartesian coordinate systemcomprising an X-axis corresponding to a widthwise direction of themobile terminal, a Y-axis corresponding to a lengthwise direction of themobile terminal, and a Z-axis corresponding to a thickness direction ofthe mobile terminal, wherein the three-dimensional curved edge of thecorner portion of the window has: when projected on a XY plane, a firstcurve having a first curvature; when projected on a YZ plane, a secondcurve having a second curvature; and when projected on a XZ-plane, athird curve having a third curvature, and wherein the rear casecomprises a corner having a curved surface portion formed to accommodatethe three-dimensional curved edge of the curved portion of the window.25. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the rear case comprises: acover portion; a sidewall portion protruding towards the front side ofthe mobile terminal; and a bottom surface portion protruding towards thefront side, the bottom surface portion protruding further towards thefront side than the sidewall portion, wherein the curved surface portionof the corner of the rear case is curved to connect the sidewall portionand the bottom surface portion to each other while forming, from thelateral side viewpoint of the mobile terminal, the second curvature thataccommodates the first curvature of the edge of the curved portion ofthe window.
 26. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the rear casehas a length along a lengthwise direction of the mobile terminal and awidth along a widthwise direction of the mobile terminal, wherein thelength is greater than its width, wherein the bottom surface portioncomprises a first portion that is orthogonal to the lengthwisedirection, and wherein the first portion of the bottom surface portionis formed at a lower end or an upper end of the mobile terminal and isexternally exposed.
 27. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein thebottom surface portion, the curved surface portion, and the sidewallportion form a continuous structure.
 28. A mobile terminal comprising: awindow comprising: a flat window portion at a front side of the mobileterminal; and a curved window portion that curves from the front sidetowards a rear side of the mobile terminal and covers at least a portionof a lateral side of the mobile terminal; a touch sensor disposed at arear side of the window, the touch sensor being curved to correspond tothe curved window portion of the window; a display disposed at the rearside of the window, the display being curved to correspond to the curvedwindow portion of the window; a cover forming a rear surface of themobile terminal; and a case configured to accommodate the cover therein,wherein the case comprises: a cover portion that accommodates the cover;a sidewall portion that protrudes towards the front side of the mobileterminal; a bottom surface portion that protrudes towards the front sideof the mobile terminal, the bottom surface portion protruding furthertowards the front side than the sidewall portion, the bottom surfaceportion comprising a first portion that is orthogonal to the lengthwisedirection, wherein the first portion of the bottom surface portion isformed at a lower end or an upper end of the mobile terminal and isexternally exposed; and a curved surface portion that is curved toconnect the sidewall portion and the bottom surface portion to eachother, wherein the case has a length along a lengthwise direction of themobile terminal and a width along a widthwise direction of the mobileterminal, the length being greater than its width, wherein the curvedwindow portion of the window has a three-dimensional curved edge, andwherein the curved surface portion of the case is formed to accommodatethe three-dimensional curved edge of the curved window portion of thewindow.